SEATTLE — Paige Bueckers called Jessica Shepard a hub for the Dallas Wings offense in a postgame interview with USA Sports after a 103-91 win over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday night.
Shepard had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists for her sixth triple-double of the season, the most in the WNBA. She shot 9-of-12 from the field. Dallas finished the regular season 27-17.
Bueckers led the Wings with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. She made all 6 of her free throws.
Paige Bueckers Calls Jessica Shepard The Dallas Wings’ Offensive Hub
In the first quarter alone, Shepard had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. According to the team, no player in WNBA history had reached all three marks in a single quarter. Bueckers said Shepard affects games whether or not she is scoring.
“Jess has meant so much to this team. She’s just a hub for us offensively. We can play through her,” Bueckers said. “She just plays winning basketball and affects the game in so many different ways, regardless if she’s scoring or not.”
“She’s putting the ball in the basket. She rebounds. She passes the ball. She pushes in transition for us, and then she’s just a leader and an even better human being than she is a basketball player,” Bueckers continued. “So I can’t say enough good things about Jess Shepard. I’m so happy to play with her and be on the same team as her and have her as a weapon for us.”
Shepard set up Bueckers’ only 3-pointer of the night. With 57.8 seconds left and Seattle within 97-91, Shepard found her for a 3 that made it 100-91.
Dallas finished with a season-high 32 assists. The Wings reached 30 assists six times this season, the most in the WNBA.
Jessica Shepard Posts WNBA-Leading Numbers In First Season With Dallas Wings
Shepard is in her first season with Dallas. She came into the year with one career triple-double.
Entering Wednesday, she had 24 double-doubles, the second-most in the WNBA. Her 13 games with at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists were the most in the league. She had 17 points and 19 rebounds Monday in an 87-86 loss at the Phoenix Mercury, her ninth game this season with at least 15 rebounds, also a league high.
Shepard spoke with USA Sports after the win as well. The Wings committed 7 turnovers in the second quarter Wednesday, and Seattle scored 6 points off them. She said taking care of the ball and getting stops will be the keys in the playoffs.
“I think just making sure that we value every possession,” Shepard said. “In the first half, we didn’t do a great job of taking care of the basketball. We know come playoffs, that’s going to be a key for us as well as getting stops when we need to.”
Dallas is the No. 7 seed and is in the playoffs for the first time since 2023. The Wings open a best-of-three first-round series Sunday on the road against the No. 2 seed, either the Golden State Valkyries or the Las Vegas Aces. That spot is decided Thursday night, with tip-off for both games set for 9 p.m. CT.
